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Aus top ODI team for third year running

Australia just need to win an ODI of the five-match series in the Caribbean.

Dubai: In the ODI Team Championship table, the main battle appears to be for the number two position as Australia has all-but-sealed top spot for the third successive year and ninth time in 11 years.

The only way Australia can slip behind second-ranked South Africa is highly unlikely if they lose all the five ODIs against the West Indies. In other words, Australia just need to win an ODI of the five-match series to retain the prestigious ODI shield and with it win a cheque of $175,000.

However, battle for second position remains tight with South Africa leading India by just one ratings point.

Three Australia batsmen have also been rewarded for their consistent performances.

Captain Michael Clarke has moved up two places to eighth spot after scoring 331 runs in six matches, David Warner has been rewarded with a jump of 97 places which puts him in 53rd position after he aggregated 506 runs in the series and David Hussey has gained eight places and is now in 34th position after scoring 439 runs at an average of just under 55.

Sri Lankan batting trio of Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Dinesh Chandimal would be aiming to carry their recent good form in Australia into the Asia Cup.

Sangakkara has jumped five places to fourth position after finishing as the fourth leading run-getter with 420 runs, Dilshan has moved up four places to 10th place after ending as the leading scorer with 513 runs, while Chandimal has broken into the top 20 for the first time and lies in 18th spot after scoring 419 runs, success that saw him rise 18 places.

In the Player Rankings for ODI bowlers, South Africa's Lonwabo Tsotsobe has achieved the number-one ranking for the first time in his career. The left-arm fast bowler took six wickets in his side's 3-0 win over New Zealand which has been enough to lift him ahead of Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal.

The only Indian bowler in the top-10 is offspinner R Ashwin at number 10 position with 647 points.

In the Player Rankings for ODI allrounders, Shane Watson has dislodged Shakib Al Hasan from the number-one position. The Australian leads the former Bangladesh captain by three ratings points.